wavewear X Descente: 협업의 여정

Hello everyone! 👋

안녕하세요 여러분! 👋

오늘은 wavewear와 Descente의 1년간의 협업 여정 뷰하인드 스토리를 공유하게 되어 기쁩니다.

이 파트너십이 어떻게 시작되었는지, 그리고 이 제품을 탄생시키기 위해 어떤 과정을 거쳤는지 함께 알아보시죠!

이 파트너십이 어떻게 시작되었는지, 그리고 이 제품을 탄생시키기 위해 어떤 과정을 거쳤는지 함께 알아보시죠!

"야간 러너들이 어떻게 더 안전하게 달릴 수 있을까?"

"야간 러너들이 어떻게 더 안전하게 달릴 수 있을까?"

이 간단하지만 강력한 질문이 WaveWear와 Descente 간의 협업 출발점이 되었습니다.

WaveWear는 근육을 지지하는 실리콘 테이핑 기술을 가져오고, Descente는 글로벌 브랜드 디자인 전문성과 유통력을 제공했습니다.

이렇게 서로 다른 강점을 가진 두 브랜드가 함께하면 러너들을 위한 완전히 새로운 경험을 만들 수 있다는 것을 알았습니다.

The First Meeting and Setting the Direction

In May 2024, during the very first meeting, it wasn’t just “Let’s do a collab.” The discussion began with the essential question:

“What product do runners actually need the most?”

After many ideas were exchanged, the consensus was clear: a calf sleeve.

Why? Because the calf is one of the most stressed areas during running, and it deserved a product that could truly support it.

Design, and More Design

By the second meeting (June 2024), the focus shifted to design and colors.

“Would a classic black & white work best?”“Or should we strengthen reflective functionality for night running?”

Both teams went through multiple sample revisions, making adjustments big and small.

Sometimes it was about logo size, other times about seam placement. After three or more redesigns, we finally reached a balance that delivered both the right fit and stability.

Sampling and Trial & Error

Of course, the first samples weren’t perfect.

Some issues came up

• Size proportions were inconsistent

• The logo was too small and barely visible

To address these, we made improvements such as enlarging the logo, optimizing reflective film placement, and adjusting the silicone pattern.

What mattered most was that both teams went beyond simple exchanges of opinions we constantly asked:

“How can runners actually feel safer and more comfortable when wearing this?”

Striving for Quality at a Fair Price

Just as important as design was the matter of pricing.

Production volume, unit costs, and realistic pricing strategies were all discussed in detail. There were disagreements at times, but in the end both sides reached a fair balance.

This reflected our shared commitment: to deliver a better product at a reasonable price.

The Final Result and Its Meaning

And so, the Descente × WaveWear Premium Calf Sleeve was born.

1. Inner silicone taping to firmly support the muscles

2. Outer reflective film to enhance night safety

3. Anti-slip band for stability even during long runs

What makes this project so special is that it wasn’t just about placing two logos side by side.

From the very first planning stage, through design revisions and sample feedback, this was a product truly co-created by both brands.

Enhanced with Premium Reflective Film

This product is also equipped with RA500cd reflective film, one of the highest-quality materials available.

It strongly reflects light from car headlights and bicycle lamps, ensuring excellent visibility in night running conditions. In fact, it can be identified from up to 250 meters away, greatly improving runner safety.

This means the sleeve isn’t just a performance product it also functions as a safety gear that protects runners every step of the way.

Social Need and Partnership Value

This collaboration is even more meaningful because night running safety has become an urgent social issue worldwide. Running in urban areas with heavy traffic or in poorly lit streets increases accident risks significantly.

The Descente × WaveWear calf sleeve directly addresses this problem, positioning itself as not just sportswear, but a practical solution for runner safety.

And through nearly a year of collaboration redesigning, resampling, and aligning on costs both brands evolved from simple partners to true co-creators, finding answers together.

The result is not just a product, but also a starting point for greater innovations ahead.

Looking Ahead

“At WaveWear, we’ve learned once again that technology creates greater value when it’s built together, not alone.”

We will continue to take on new challenges with global partners, creating solutions that allow more people to enjoy safe and enjoyable sports experiences.

The journey of creating the Descente × WaveWear calf sleeve was over a year in the making and we hope you’ve enjoyed following along with this story!

Stay tuned for more exciting news from us soon.

Until then, stay healthy and keep moving!